The course will look at why gays have been traditionally attracted to the theater; how homosexuals have been depicted historically in theater; how the LGBT community is depicted in contemporary theater; who the major LGBT playwrights have been (since Oscar Wilde); how spectators perceive LGBT characters and performances; and in what way is all the world a stage, and all its inhabitants, merely players.

Section 01  |  TR 01:30 pm-02:50 pm  |  Instructor: Dr. James Hammerstrand, Instructor in Spanish

Course description TBA

Section 02 | TR 01:30 pm-02:50 pm | Instructor: Dr. Stephanie Fore, Professor of Biology

Course description TBA

Section 03 | MWF 02:30 pm-3:20 pm | Instructor: Dr. Joyce Patrick, Associate Professor of Biology

While the term “heartland” is often used to describe the central geographic area of the United States, especially its more rural regions, in this class the term is used to draw attention to the ways in which the places in which we spend our formative years play a role in shaping our sense of identity. People tend to express affinity for the place that they call home—their “heartland”. And that place tends to infuse them with particular worldviews and values that may travel with them even when they leave the place. We will explore how those worldviews tend to differ for places or communities of different sizes spread across the urban suburban-rural continuum and how the economic and cultural differences between these places can be either a source of strength or of division in the broader society.

Section 04 | MWF 11:30 am-12:20 pm | Instructor: Dr. Michael Seipel, Professor of Agricultural Science

Course description TBA

Section 05 | TR 09:00am–10:20am | Instructor: Dr. Priya Kambli, Professor of Art, Photography and Foundations

Taking a walk is the best way to get oriented to a new place. As we move at human speed, our senses are able to take in various sights, smells, and sounds, and thereby recognize our place in the physical environment. In this FYS we will study the phenomenon of walking from multiple perspectives, considering human anatomy and evolution, the history of walking as a leisure pursuit, the health benefits of walking, the value of walking (pilgrimage) as religious observance, walking as a form of protest, as well as walking as a transportation alternative. We will get to know Kirksville, Truman, and each other better through long walks, films and books about memorable walks, and service projects centered on making Kirksville a better place to walk.

Section 06 | TR 03:00 pm-04:20 pm | Instructor: Dr. Bridget Thomas, Professor of Classics

Darkness at night is a valuable but underestimated natural resource. There is growing consensus among scientists that maintaining dark-sky conditions in remote areas will benefit wildlife, and reversing the irresponsible outdoor lighting habits in towns and cities will greatly benefit humans, as well as animals and plants. However, we are losing this resource at an alarming rate due to urban sprawl and the rise in indiscriminate use of LED lights. This course focuses on the need for preserving natural darkness in our nighttime environment. Students will learn about the relatively straightforward ways to maintain natural nighttime conditions without compromising security and aesthetics. Additionally, students will participate in civic-engagement and activism by petitioning law enforcement, parks, and city administrators to install night-sky-friendly outdoor lighting in the Kirksville area.

Section 07 | TR 09:00am–10:20am | Instructor: Dr. Vayu Gokhale, Professor of Physics

The course will help each student develop their own individual philosophy on the significance of money in everyday life, serve as an introduction to developing skills and strategies on how to make and manage money and how to overcome legal challenges that sometimes run interference. The course will also demonstrate that the same strategies designed to make and manage money and navigate legal issues can be employed to create success in your educational experience at Truman and how putting yourself in a sound financial position and staying out of legal trouble can allow you to pass the success forward through philanthropy and community service. If time allows and throughout the course — current business and legal topics in the news will be discussed.

Section 09 | MWF 12:30 pm-01:20 pm | Instructor: Professor Scott Templeton, J.D., Assistant Professor of Business Administration
Section 22 | MWF 11:30 pm-12:20 pm | Instructor: Professor Scott Templeton, J.D., Assistant Professor of Business Administration

In this section, we will use speculative fiction—particularly science fiction and fantasy stories—to approach the issues of Self and Society. Once framed as niche interests, these stories make up some of the biggest pieces of intellectual property in the world today. Such stories might seem like simple entertainments featuring wizards and elves and dragons, but these worlds and the ideas we bring with us to talk about them reflect very present concerns about society and our place in them. So step through the wardrobe with me and let’s see how we can use these stories to better understand ourselves.

Section 10 | MWF 10:30 am-11:20 pm | Instructor: Dr. Josh Nudell, Assistant Professor of History

What is a natural resource? How do we construct the value of those resources, and what is considered a common good? How do we think about water that flows from drinking fountains versus that in a can of soda, or an industrial solvent versus an aquifer? Given the central role of water’s many forms across ecological, cultural, and economic landscapes, it’s no surprise that questions of water governance span centuries and continents. In this class, we will examine concepts of water in two different societies: the Roman Empire, and the contemporary United States. We will explore water management in ancient and contemporary cities. As a class, we will analyze the various ways in which people value and think about water: drinking water, recreation, sanitation, economic resource, and catastrophic floods or droughts. To what extent do these concepts emerge as a part of our cultural identity? How did the perspective of past peoples differ, and what can we learn from those differences?

Section 11 | MWF 9:30 am-10:20 am | Instructor: Dr. Stephanie Russell, Instructor of History
Section 12 | MWF 12:30 pm-01:20 pm | Instructor: Dr. Stephanie Russell, Instructor of History

Course description TBA

Section 13 | TR 09:00 am-10:20 am | Instructor: Dr. Marc Becker, Professor of History

This course explores four philosophical questions. First, what are we? What makes me today the same person as my 5-year-old self? If I lose all my memories and my personality changes radically, is that similar to dying? In the future, could we survive by “uploading” our personalities onto computer chips? Second, do divine or supernatural beings exist? Is such a being necessary to explain the existence of the universe? Is the existence of a divine being compatible with evil in the world? Third, how should we act? Is morality determined by culture? Is it ok to kill one person to save many others? Do we have moral obligations to animals? Fourth, what can we know? Can we know anything about the external world, or could we be systematically deceived about the nature of reality? Can we make justified predictions about the future or trust the testimony of others? In addition to introducing these philosophical questions, the course will help students improve academic skills and explore their new home in Kirksville and at Truman.

Section 15 | MWF 01:30 pm-02:20 pm | Instructor: Dr. Josh Mund, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religion

This class will explore the intersection between identity and performance. We are surrounded by an abundance of mediated and unmediated performances — from Tik Tok to the stages of Broadway. In all of these we find performances of identity. You will work with your peers to develop a greater capacity to discuss challenging and controversial issues related to identity, as well as develop an understanding about how different disciplines approach the idea of performance as a critical lens to analyze how cultures and individuals form, and reform identities.

Section 16 | TR 09:00 am-10:20 pm | Instructor: Dr. Jonathan Wehmeyer, Assistant Professor of Theatre

In this section of FYS, we will explore the integrity of caring for others in the context of healthcare research and professions. Students will consider the impact of social structures upon health care of individuals, communities, and those providing such care. Topics for discussion will include the historical evolution of the caring arts, with a particular emphasis upon the ethics of caring and research in growing a body of disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge.

Section 17 | MWF 09:30 am–10:20 am | Instructor: Dr. Teak Nelson, Professor of Nursing

The purpose of this course is to cultivate the habits of curiosity, good scholarship, ethical considerations, and community engagement needed for students to grow as liberally educated lifelong learners. Students will explore the notion of the self and how each individual’s role is influenced within the broader context of a major or occupation, relevant groups, the local community, and society. The course serves as an introduction to critical, multi-disciplinary, and intercultural thinking. This course is designed for Computer Science majors and those interested in the field.

Section 18 | MWF 11:30 am-12:20 pm | Instructor: Dr. Ruthie Halma, Professor of Computer Science

This particular section “Is the world getting better or worse?” focuses on the evidence-based decision making. The conversation includes how we had made decisions about world issues, how one’s background affected the perception, what is our role in the society promoting “correct” information, and how to make a good decision which hopefully make the world better.

Section 19 | MWF 09:30 am–10:20 am | Instructor: Dr. Hyun-Joo Kim, Professor of Statistics; Department Chair of Health Sciences

This seminar approaches the origins, concepts, and development of self through the lens of literature with an emphasis on Leadership. Throughout the semester, we will explore some of the groundwork for leadership through an integrative framework of analysis, practice, and reflection. Included in this exploration will be a focus on ideas pertaining to language, thought, identity, culture, diversity, and the overlap with and impact on society. Additionally, there are opportunities for you to develop best practices for being an ethically engaged citizen and leaders at various stages of life. Throughout the course, you will hone your understanding of what it means to hear and interpret the narratives of self that are communicated to us, how we develop and share an awareness about our own identity and diversity, while recognizing our individual role and responsibility as participants and leaders in our local and global communities.

Section 20 | TR 01:30 pm–02:50 pm | Instructor: Dr. Brian Heston, Assistant Professor of English

This course invites students to reflect on what it means to be an educated person in today’s world. Guided by the essential question “Are you educated?” students will explore how individual identity is shaped within cultural, societal, and community contexts. Designed to foster curiosity, reflection, academic integrity, and civic engagement, the course encourages students to challenge conventional ideas of education and consider how its meaning shifts across time, place, and lived experience. Students will also develop an appreciation for education not only as a personal journey but as a public good, vital to the health of communities, the pursuit of equity, and the functioning of a democratic society. By the end of the course, students will be better equipped to articulate their own educational values and to engage with the world as thoughtful, informed, and responsible lifelong learners.

Section 21 | TR 10:30 am–11:50 am | Instructor: Dr. Melissa Chapman, Lecturer in Education

In this class we will explore the suggestion that humans currently have a bigger impact on our planet than all other forces of nature combined and that, as a result, we should consider ourselves to be living in a new geological epoch: the Anthropocene. Although geologists recently rejected a proposal to formally recognize the Anthropocene as a geological epoch, many scientists find it a valuable term to recognize the extreme human impact on multiple complex and rapidly changing Earth systems. The concept of the Anthropocene describes human impact on nine broad domains of planetary systems. These include, but go far beyond, climate change. We will explore the concept of the Anthropocene from a scientific and a human perspective. What is the Anthropocene? And, whether or not it is formally recognized as a geologic epoch, what does it mean for those of us who are living in this time of unprecedented human impact on the planet and rapid environmental and social change? What do we need to know to anticipate and prepare for the challenges of the future? How can a liberal arts and sciences education help?

Section 23 | MWF 11:30 am-12:20 pm | Instructor: Dr. Amber Johnson, Professor of Anthropology

Our consumption of popular culture is off the charts. Whether it be through film, TV, video games, computers or actual print, the 21st century is marked by how much popular culture shapes our identities and guides our spending habits. Hollywood knows this and so does Madison Avenue. Yet popular culture does not exist in a vacuum and often draws from the past in order to create timeless stories that people return to again and again. This is as true for Disney when it repackages Western tales and myths, as it true for Japanese video game designers who draw heavily from stories like Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In this course, we will explore various forms of popular culture in East Asia (China, Japan and Korea), beginning with more traditional forms and ending with the K-pop that is so dear to all our hearts.

Section 24 | TR 01:30 pm–02:50 pm | Instructor: Dr. Jomo Smith, Instructor of History

Understanding cultural differences is essential to becoming an effective communicator, problem solver, and citizen. Cultures differ among social groups, and they are not limited to nations or ethnicities but also age, gender, regions, occupations, hobbies, etc. This course explores the idea and development of ‘normal’ across cultures, both macro and micro, and helps you to see things from various perspectives and to learn from each other.

Section 25 | MWF 02:30 pm-03:20 pm | Instructor: Dr. Shinya Uchida, Instructor of Japanese

This section will focus on the history of agriculture in Kirksville and specifically at the university-owned farm. It will also explore the impacts agriculture has on the local, state, and national level, including the changes in the industry throughout time and adaptations that are being made to the changing climate. Students in this section can expect to get their hands dirty experimenting with the content and learning from primary sources.

Section 26 | MWF 09:30 am-10:20 am | Instructor: Dr. Emily Costello, Lecturer in Agricultural Science, Equestrian Show Team Coach

The purpose of this course is to cultivate the habits of curiosity, good scholarship, ethical consideration, and community engagement needed for students to grow as lifelong learners. Students will explore the notion of self and how each individual’s role is influenced within broader context of a major or occupation, relevant groups, the local community, and society. The course serves as an introduction to critical, multi-disciplinary, and intercultural thinking. The study will be approached from a mathematical perspective, using the principles of mathematical game theory as a lens.

Section 28 | MWF 2:30 pm-03:20 pm | Instructor: Dr. Tony Vazzana, Professor of Mathematics

Course description TBA

Section 29 | MWF 09:30 am-10:20 am | Instructor: Dr. Jie Li, Assistant Professor of Business Administration

There are many ways to “do life”, and each path is marked by transitions. In this section we will explore life transitions such as moving or transferring schools as opportunities to embrace change and the unknown, face your fears, and seek adventure through reasonable risk-taking within the context of scuba diving and world travel.

Section 01 | W 01:30 pm-02:20 pm | Instructor: Dr. Teak Nelson, Professor of Nursing